French President Emmanuel Macron received US president-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, hours before the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral – a symbolic moment for France that was attended by dozens of world leaders.
Mr Trump, who arrived 40 minutes late for his meeting with the French President, said that they had enjoyed a good relationship during his previous mandate as president and would discuss geopolitical instability. "We had a good time together, and we had a lot of success, really great success working together,” Mr Trump said alongside Mr Macron ahead of bilateral talks. "And it certainly seemed like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we'll be talking about that.”
The war in Ukraine was high on the agenda. Mr Trump, who takes office in January, has promised to end the war there in one day. Some analysts believe he may force Ukraine to offer concessions to Moscow.
"We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” wrote Mr Zelenskyy on X.
"It's a great opportunity to anticipate what the positions of the president-elect will be” on Ukraine, said Patrick Martin Genier, Sciences Po University professor, speaking on BFMTV. "We know very well that he will be the centre of the negotiations, though we cannot talk about bilateral negotiations now because he cannot replace the Biden administration.”
Mr Trump landed on Saturday in Paris shortly before 7am and headed straight to the US embassy with a large convoy of cars. His visit is viewed as a diplomatic success by Mr Macron and may offer him an early opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and Washington. Mr Trump also held meetings with the UK's Prince William, according to Kensington Palace, and outgoing US first lady Jill Biden, who was attending after visiting Abu Dhabi and Doha. US President Joe Biden was not present.
Bad weather changes programme
Bad weather disrupted the reopening ceremony for Notre-Dame, forcing organisers to move events inside at the last minute. It officially reopened shortly after 7pm, when Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich knocked its doors with his crosier, a long staff which symbolises a bishop as shepherd to his people. X owner Elon Musk, who was recently appointed by Mr Trump to co-lead government efficiency under his mandate, made a surprise appearance at the ceremony.
In a nod to France's secularism, Mr Macron was initially scheduled to speak outside the 800-year old site. "We have rediscovered what great nations can do: achieve the impossible,” Mr Macron said, speaking inside the cathedral where major historical events including the crowning of Henry IV of England in 1431 and of Napoleon in 1804 took place. "This cathedral was thus the happy metaphor of what a nation is, and what the world should be.”
About 1,500 people attended the ceremony, which will be followed by a Mass on Sunday after the blessing of the altar. The Elysee confirmed the presence of more than 40 heads of state, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and former US Secretary of State John Kerry were also present, as well as Mr Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Massad Boulos. Listed among religious figures was Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai. Pope Francis was represented by apostolic nuncio to France, Celestino Migliore.
Mr Migliore delivered a message from the Pope, who called for free access to the newly-rebuilt cathedral after there was talk to charge tourists for its entrance. "Notre-Dame will soon be visited and admired again by an immense crowd of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, religions, languages and cultures, many of them in search of the absolute and meaning in their lives,” the Pope said.
Thousands of people had started to gather in the streets surrounding the cathedral hours before the start of the event. For those who wanted to get close to the cathedral, which was closed off by a security perimeter, individual security checks were mandatory. About 6,000 policemen and gendarme were on duty at the event.
Standing in the crowd of thousands of onlookers was Randy Yaloz, president of Republicans Overseas France. Wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, he told The National that Mr Trump had made "the right move” by coming to Paris for the reopening of the cathedral. "Americans consider [Notre-Dame cathedral] the heart of Christianity in Europe and for them the burning down of Notre-Dame was a big shock,” he said. "Mr Trump, as a believer, as a practising Christian and also supportive of many Christians in America, had to be here to support Notre-Dame.”
When the cathedral burnt down under his previous tenure as US president, Mr Trump had expressed strong concern, saying it was "so horrible” to watch. Five years later, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social page that Mr Macron had "done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre-Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
Also in the crowd was Micherael Lapommeray, who said it was unthinkable to miss the ceremony. "As a Catholic, I think it was a duty for me to be here,” said Mr Lapommeray, a US citizen who lives in Paris. He said he would book a slot online to visit the cathedral as soon as it reopens to the public on December 16. "Notre-Dame is not just a religious symbol. It carries with it hundreds of years of French history and prestige.”
For Sophie Sardegna, 51, the cathedral was more a symbol of national pride than a spiritual symbol. "I've seen the pictures of the work that has been done, and I think it's even more beautiful than before. There's more light and more joy,” she said.
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Afro%20salons
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
The%20specs
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